Performance of Rossini Mass

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33539, 21 May 1974, Page 10

Performance of Rossini Mass

The Royal Christchurch iMusical Society will perform Rossini’s last major work, | “Petite Messe Solennelle,” in the Town Hall on Saturday night. The choir has performed the work once previously in Christchurch — on a centennary of the composer’s death in 1968. j A prolific composer of ! operas. Rossini wrote only ;two choral works, “Stabat Mater” and "Petite Messe (Solennelle.” The latter was; | first performed privately,: ■with its original accom-' paniment of two pianos and harmonium, at the house of

the banker, Pillet-Will, in Paris. The work was received with admiration, and Rossini then scored it for full orchestra. Perversely, he forbade performances of it during his life.

The title of the work, “Little Solemn Mass,” is 'something of a misnomer. (The work is not little, for it (takes an hour and a half to perform and requires four Soloists besides choir and (orchestra. It cannot be described as solemn, because it 'is infected with the usual gaiety of Rossini’s music. Finally, it is not an orthoidox Mass, for Rossini has made additions to the text ;by writing a "Religious Prelude” between the end of the I "Creed” and the start of the [“Sanctus,” and by inserting the Latin hymn “O Salutaris Hostia” ("O Saving Victim”) before the final ‘Agnus Dei.”

The soloists engaged for Saturday include two expatriate New Zealanders iwho have achieved considerable success overseas. The soprano. Beverley Bergen, is now star of the Welsh National Opera, and the bass, Noel Mangin, is with the Hamburg State Opera. He has sung with most of the major opera companies since he left New Zealand 13 years ago.

The other two soloists. Anthea Moller (mezzo-sopr-ano) and Keith Lewis (tenor), are well-known to Christchurch audiences. The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra will accompany the choir and the performance will be conducted by Robert Field-Dod-gson.